San Diego area seizures at sea, border crossing

The US Navy transport ship USS New Orleans recovered an estimated 1,800 pounds of cannabis from a small boat off the coast of San Diego Aug. 20. Coast Guard officials received a call about a 20-foot fishing boat apparently from Mexico, and requested the New Orleans respond as they were operating in the vicinity. As the New Orleans approached, the boat's crew dumped several bundles overboard. Officials said some 1,800 pounds of cannabis was recovered from the dumped bundles. The recovered cannabis and several crew members were turned over to the Mexican navy.

That same day, US Customs and Border Protection officers at the San Ysidro crossing arrested a 24-year-old US citizen with 1,150 pounds of cannabis hidden inside furniture being hauled in a trailer behind his pickup truck. Officials seized a sofa, china cabinet and bedroom furniture reportedly used to hide the 126 packages. The truck was also seized. (Expeditionary Strike Group Three Public Affairs, LAT, Aug. 23)